Greenbaum, Rowe, Smith & Davis LLP

Firm Overview

The firm, which marked its 100th anniversary in 2014, serves a broad range of local, regional and national clients with interests in New Jersey and surrounding areas. Client trust and loyalty is earned through sophisticated, creative and cost-effective representation, proactive legal strategies, attention to detail and relationship-oriented service. Nine core departments and numerous interdisciplinary practice groups create an integrated service profile that meets the needs of entrepreneurs, small and mid-sized businesses, larger entities and individuals alike.

Litigation

Recognized as one of New Jersey’s premier litigation teams, the firm has the resources and efficiency to handle complex and ‘bet the company’ litigation and more routine matters. The practice encompasses commercial litigation, real estate, environmental, construction, estate, white collar defense, professional negligence, product liability, bankruptcy, banking, employment and ADR. The firm recognizes that each case is unique and that implementing an appropriate strategy to meet the client’s goals goes beyond legal analysis – business or personal circumstances, financial considerations, and the specifics of the matter are all taken into account.

Corporate

The firm’s corporate practice provides practical and efficient solution-oriented representation. A key competency is its sophisticated knowledge of both big picture issues and fine point details of business dealings in New Jersey. Clients include individuals, entrepreneurs, middle market companies, family-owned operations and regional and national corporations in various industries: manufacturing, food and beverage, sports, entertainment, retail, automotive, real estate, transportation, alternative energy, health care, banking and finance. The group serves as general counsel to companies without in-house legal resources. Other focuses include mergers and acquisitions, financing transactions, securities offerings and franchise law.

Real Estate

The real estate group provides comprehensive representation related to the acquisition, disposition, leasing, and renovation of commercial, industrial, and residential real estate in New Jersey. This experience encompasses financing and incentives, energy efficiency and sustainable design, commercial property tax appeals, planned real estate, brokerage law, restructuring and workouts, community associations and condominium law. Clients include buyers, sellers, lenders, owners, landlords, tenants, investors, corporations and REITS.

Redevelopment & Land Use

The Redevelopment & Land Use Department was established in 2014 with a focus on traditional development, redevelopment, land use and zoning, following a growth in demand for services in those areas. Experience encompasses projects of all sizes and levels of complexity throughout New Jersey, including residential, industrial, retail, office and mixed use. Legal services include project siting and property acquisition, financing and incentives, redevelopment and PILOT agreements, construction and environmental issues, zoning and land use planning, due diligence, permits, representation before community boards and regulatory agencies, appeals, prerogative writ actions and litigation.

Employment Law

The Employment Law Department services private and public sector clients in the areas of employment law counseling, compliance issues, and related disputes and litigation, with a primary focus on management. This includes representation in state and federal courts, before administrative agencies, and in arbitration proceedings. Our employment litigation experience includes claims related to discrimination, harassment, unlawful retaliation, whistleblower, wrongful discharge, contract issues, workplace torts, wage/hour disputes, and disputes involving restrictive covenants, non-compete and non-solicitation agreements. Group members counsel clients with regard to employment practices, compliance issues, risk management, employment policies, workplace issues, worker classification, employment contracts, employee handbooks, restrictive covenants, and other agreements. The firm conducts human resources audits, internal investigations and management and employee training programs. Work also encompasses employee benefits and executive compensation, including the drafting, negotiation and implementation of employment and separation agreements, equity and equity-based compensation arrangements, and incentive and deferred compensation arrangements.

Environmental

The environmental team counsels developers, property owners, manufacturers, REITS, landlords, tenants, lenders and trustees on the impact of environmental laws and regulations on real estate, business and lending transactions and operations, with a particular focus on New Jersey. The group has significant experience related to transactional issues, financing and cost recovery in brownfield and contaminated property cleanups and redevelopment. Other areas of focus include Superfund matters; environmental land use issues; transaction triggered environmental laws; disclosure obligations and enforcement proceedings; environmental due diligence and risk allocation; environmental insurance; EHS compliance and product stewardship.

Healthcare

From regulatory issues to complex transactional and litigation matters to day-to-day business counseling, attorneys in the firm's Healthcare Department possess a sophisticated understanding of the unique healthcare business environment, bothin New Jersey and beyond. They counsel a roster of clients that includes many of New Jersey’s foremost healthcare systems, hospitals and medical facilities, medical staffs, organized delivery systems (ODSs), physician-hospital organizations (PHOs), independent practice associations (IPAs), physicians and physician group practices, physician and hospital-physician joint ventures, pharmaceutical companies, managed care organizations, home health agencies, nursing homes, healthcare industry vendors, medical device manufacturers, private equity funds, and industry-associated financial and corporate entities. This inclusive representation has propelled the team to statewide and national prominence within the healthcare field.

Tax, Trusts & Estates

The tax and estates practice offers a full spectrum of legal services related to business and personal tax issues, estate planning and estate administration. Representation encompasses wealth preservation and accumulation strategies; asset protection planning; tax minimization; federal and state tax controversies; succession planning; elder law; employee benefits and executive compensation; and estate litigation. Clients include individuals, business owners, corporate executives, and nonprofit and tax exempt entities.

Family Law

The family law practice provides responsive and personalized “boutique” service backed by the comprehensive support of a full service business law firm. Attorneys are among the preeminent practitioners in New Jersey. Representation through negotiation, mediation, litigation or appeal encompasses divorce, separation, child custody and guardianship, child support, spousal maintenance, equitable distribution, domestic violence, adoption, pre- and post-nuptial agreements, post judgment enforcement and modifications, and the emerging areas of collaborative divorce and planning issues for special needs children.